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The girl in my arms pulls back. She looks at me, then follows my stare to the now apparent lovers.

“Of course,” Siena mutters, dropping her arms.

“What?” I ask, turning my attention back to her.

“I spent hours on my hair and makeup tonight. Hours. I went to five different shops to find this dress. I just want you to notice me, but you’re always too busy looking at her.”

“I wasn’t looking at her,” I say, turning back to face them again. It’s nothing to do with her. I just want to see what Ashen does. Vix is my blood source. I’m only making sure no other vamps, friends included, try to take what’s mine. Ashen isn’t that stupid. It’s also very clear her blood isn’t what’s on his mind. And she’s going right along with it, tilting her head to the side so he can nuzzle into her.

Apparently, all it takes is a little attention and she’s suddenly open for business.

Pathetic.

Siena scoffs. The sound of her heels clicking against the hardwood floor draws me back. Most of me couldn’t care less that she’s leaving, but the predatorial creature inside me doesn’t like when things walk away. It draws out the hunter, and there’s nothing I love more than the chase.

I could stay. I also don’t give a shit about this party. So, I follow her, leaving behind Ashen and the stray.

Siena steps quickly, visibly pissed.

We find ourselves outside, the area devoid of anyone else. Just her. Just me. I know she knows I’ve followed her out here. I also know it’s exactly what she wanted. Her arms are crossed, folded tightly against her chest. She’s more than angry. So am I.

My fingers wrap around the nape of her neck, pushing her back against the wall. “You shouldn’t walk away from me, faerie,” I growl, letting my fangs bare themselves.

“You shouldn’t be a complete ass,” she argues.

I’m aware of Siena’s feelings toward me. She wants my attention. Needs constant affirmation that she’s somehow special. That’s not to say I think she isn’t. There’s a lot Siena has to offer. She’s also very high maintenance. I just don’t find it necessary to endlessly shower her with compliments and my undying approval like she so desperately believes she needs. It’s a lot to expect from someone who isn’t tied to you in any way other than casual hookups.

Placing my hand under her jaw, I force her head to the side. She gasps when I sink my teeth into her goose-bitten flesh, then wraps her arms around my back, breathing my name, and my mind begins to wander.

Those soft lips, those bicolor eyes…

I lift her, pinning her in place against the brick wall. Her blood drains down my throat, and she begins to rock her hips against me.

That long brown hair wrapped through my fingers…

I push her dress up her thighs, exposing her legs to anyone who might step through the door.

Crimson coats my tongue. Not nearly as sweet as the blood I’ve come to find elsewhere. Not nearly as filling. So, I bite down harder, compelling myself to believe what she’s giving me is enough. That I don’t need anything else. That I don’t need it from her.

My obsession. My human. My stray.

The door swings open and I do nothing to stop. I’m moments from shredding this dress off the faerie. Not because I want her. But because I need to feel something. To bury myself so far in her I forget about those long legs and pretty silk gown. So delicate and perfect. So damn annoying and utterly wrong.

Whoever it is can stay for the show or carry on their merry fucking way.

“My guy,” Ashen says enthusiastically. “No shame in his location game.”

Of all the people who could have walked out.

I break away from Siena’s neck so I can face him. Sumner is right beside him, because of course she is.

Under the night’s light, the threads from her dress illuminate around her. A misty-cobalt. Icy sapphire. It makes her skin look paler, her hair darker. The fabric shines as though it were made for her, forged in the stars and sewn in the heavens. Everything is accentuated. So much so it makes my fingers curl. I hadn’t noticed just how skintight that little dress was. How very much it shows even though most of her is concealed beneath it.

Sumner eyes me and the girl I have pinned against the wall, more unexpressive than I’ve ever seen as Siena untangles herself from my hold, fixing her dress so her lack of panties isn’t on display.

“What are you doing?” The question is directed to both of them, but my eyes fall only to hers. One, an ocean that could drown you, the other, fresh cinnamon dusted in sunlight. Midnight blue and earthy brown. Two colors that shouldn’t fit together but somehow do. They draw you in, even when you don’t want them to. I feel my pulse race and it doesn’t make sense why.

She’s standing so close to him.